While colleges and businesses have seen a jump in demand and participation in personal safety classes after recent sexual assaults, only five women attended a free self-defense class offered Tuesday at the University of Nevada, Reno.

They cited the Jan. 20 kidnapping of Brianna Denison and three other attacks on or near campus to explain the increase.

Freshman Tori Castillo said she paid to take another self-defense course and wanted to see how this course compared.

"With all the events that have happened on campus, it's a good skill to have," she said.

DeWayne Manning, a UNR boxing and self-defense instructor, said he usually schedules self-defense classes with groups such as sororities but was asked to offer an ongoing class this semester. His recent classes have been "packed," he said.

His self-defense course teaches awareness and defense against various grabs, including wrists grabs, chokes, strangles and bear hugs. After going over various techniques on Tuesday, students will have the opportunity Thursday to practice them against a mock attacker.

"(It's an) opportunity to see how they're going to react," Manning said. "Because it's never like you think it will be."

Manning gave the women documents entitled "Through a rapist's eyes," explaining what rapists look for in a potential victim and a list of dos and don'ts.

"The more information you have, the better off you're going to be," he said. "I want to make you guys aware so when you walk out on the street, you're not going to be a victim or a target."

In the fourth week of the semester and the Denison investigation, officials said attendance at the twice-weekly safety presentations has been trailing off, as other courses are seeing high numbers.

A 20-person, multi-day

Rape Aggression Defense program taught by university police had been drawing eight people a session, said Assistant Chief Todd Renwick. The course that began Feb. 5 was overbooked, and all 24 showed up, he said.

Truckee Meadows Community College students have been encouraged to attend safety workshops, spokeswoman Kelly Frank said.

"We've noticed students are being more vigilant about their surroundings, and I think that the message is to be aware," Frank said.

At United Studios of Self Defense studio on Mae Anne Avenue, 150 women attended a Sunday class, and more than 60 people attended a Saturday class at Aikido School of Reno on Wells Avenue.